ECC Leisure Manager not Dealing with Jim

Jim’s email of 6th February 2007 to the ECC Leisure Manager evoked the following response on 8th February:

Jim - I am not going to respond to the points in your 6 February email as you would doubtless pick over everything I say, word by word, and the matter could go on indefinitely. I have no intention of participating in your crusade on the morals and motives of members and officers of Exeter City Council and Devon County Council, but I am happy to discuss the club's occupation of the premises at Summerway with the other members of the club's committee. I have relayed this to the club's Secretary, indicating that we don't want to deal with you any more due to the obvious breakdown in the relationship between you and what you term local government.

A proposal for the terms of a future lease is on the table. Those terms are negotiable and I see no reason why agreement cannot be reached, since Exeter City Council will support Summerway Junior Tennis Club on terms broadly comparable to those enjoyed by other sports clubs in the city, taking account of the club's particular circumstances.

Ian

Dear Ian,

Thank you for your email. This both saddened and disappointed me, as you do not seem to be grasping the meaning of the content of my letters and emails, and you are clearly misinterpreting me as well.

I hope that you are not suggesting that I am reducing the serious matters under consideration to a mere exercise in semantics. I thought we were engaged in negotiation to try to reach agreement on the terms of a new lease for the Summerway Club. It is hard to see how that can be achieved without the use of words. If you are suggesting that I am examining what you say word by word, of course I am showing you that courtesy. How else should I treat the things you say? I only wish that you would accord me the same courtesy by closely examining the points I make.

Your reference to a crusade which you attribute to me is totally out of order. I have no such crusade. As far as I am concerned, the great majority (if not all) of the Councillors are dedicated, very busy and hard-working individuals of the highest moral standing. Were that not so, I doubt that they would have been elected. It seems likely to me that such bodies of people would ensure that the Officers who supply them with information and implement their decisions were of a similar nature. If any issue of morality arises in the course of negotiations, it needs to be addressed, but it is a huge mistake for any such issue to be taken as a personal affront to anyone. I have been at great pains to make it quite clear that nobody is under personal attack and that nobody should be hurt. Please hear what I am saying. Holding different views and opinions to those held by Councillors or Officers is not questioning their competence, authority or expressing dissatisfaction. All that it indicates is the need for a meaningful debate to which everyone should bring an open mind.

You refer to an obvious breakdown in the relationship between Jim Harle and Local Government. As far as I am concerned, that is utter nonsense. I sense no breakdown. I have certainly encountered difficulty in drawing attention to the factors underlying the relationship between the Club and the Councils. I would hope that those in Local Government who have had time to examine the points I have been putting forward will be beginning to see the substance of the case I am bringing to their attention. Councillors have many duties, and it may take time for the light to dawn, but I am patient, and am fully convinced that a major adjustment is necessary in order to properly accommodate the Voluntary Sector, and to avoid further harm of the nature sustained by Summerway. I feel fairly certain that Local Government has no idea of the damage it has caused to the Club, or why that should be. Whichever way you look at it, though, I cannot see a breakdown.

What I do see is another withdrawal by Local Government. First, I see Local Government withdrawing from the partnership with the Club that existed from 1972 to 2006, and now I see Local Government withdrawing from any dealings with me. I don't know the extent of the latter withdrawal, but if it is widespread, it would be a truly sad reflection on the state of Local Government practice. If negotiations do cease, does that mean I no longer have a relationship with Local Government?

I do not think that your intention to split me off from the rest of the Summerway Committee is an honourable one. I have been part of that Committee for over twenty-five years, and exerting this sort of external pressure on the Committee to isolate one of its members is extremely unworthy. My vote in Committee only counts one, so whatever the Committee decides will depend on the other Committee members, whether we like it or not. I hope that when the Committee speaks, you will pay close attention.

Finally, you have saddened and disappointed me. As far as I am concerned, that does not constitute a breakdown in any personal relationship we may enjoy. I will continue to hope for better things to come.

Yours sincerely,

Jim.

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It is doubtful whether the email above would have needed a reply, especially as a Summerway Committee meeting was imminent, and these matters could have been dealt with by the Committee.  Unfortunately, the comments about a crusade made a response obligatory.  The message below was emailed to the Leisure Manager on 11th February with Bcc: copies to the Summerway Committee, Families and Watchers.